Top Crop Summit 2023

WHY ATTEND?
Canadian farmers and agronomists have faced incredible challenges over the last few years, but the agility and resilience of Canada’s ag industry has never been stronger. We’re thrilled to showcase the merits of Canadian farmers and the scientific community at the 2023 Top Crop Summit, our annual educational forum. Join leading researchers, industry stakeholders and your peers at the TCU Place on Feb. 22 and 23, 2023, for the Top Crop Summit. You’ll leave with ideas and inspiration to keep your crops as healthy and profitable as possible, no matter what curveballs the season brings.

AGENDA
Our editorial team is putting together the final schedule that will include a full day of industry experts discussing Canadian crop production research and trends, and a happy hour for attendees and sponsors to network on Feb. 22nd, followed by a half day of sessions focused on malt barley insights and best management practices.
Stay tuned for speaker and schedule details.

TRADE SHOW
All exhibitors and sponsors offer relevant products and services to the field crop production sector. Meet with exhibitors who are showcasing new products, membership benefits and are committed to helping you keep your crops healthy and profitable in 2023.
To reserve your booth or amplify your brand exposure, contact:
Quinton Moorehead | 204-720-1639
Or
Michelle Bertholet | 204-596-8710
Attend Top Crop Summit
Get ready to discover new technologies and solutions
Register to Attend
Schedule
*Event schedule subject to change7:00am – 8:00am |
Exhibitor set-up & arrival |
8:00am - 8:45am |
Attendee registration opens |
9:00am - 9:05am |
Opening remarks |
9:05am – 9:55am |
Kochia control in a glyphosate-resistant worldSpeaker: Charles Geddes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alta.Kochia is an indelible pest to producers, and with ongoing herbicide resistance, new control options must be considered. Charles will present research on alternative methods to control this weed. Charles Geddes is a research scientist studying weed ecology and cropping systems at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Lethbridge, Alta. |
9:55am – 10:25am |
Nitrogen management considerations: Getting the most out of applied nitrogenSpeaker: Jeff Schoenau, University of SaskatchewanHow do 4R management-related factors (rate decisions, selection of source, including enhanced efficiency N products, time of application and placement) improve N fertilizer recovery by crops? The nature of N losses, including nitrous oxide, and how these losses may be addressed, is considered. |
10:25am – 10:45am |
Coffee and networking break |
10:45am – 11:30am |
2023 Insect watchSpeaker: Dr. Tyler WistWhat impacts does a drought have on insect pest carryover? What insects should be on your radar for 2023? This presentation will give a glimpse at the insect pests keeping entomologists up at night. Dr. Tyler Wist is a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon. Wist and his team develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and solutions to sustain the economic and environmental viability of farming systems in Western Canada. |
11:30am – 12:20pm |
4R P fertilizer management in the Prairies: an updated reviewSpeaker: Don Flaten, University of ManitobaThe cold soils at planting and short growing season in the Canadian Prairies create special challenges for P nutrition in crops and P fertilization practices. In addition, recent changes in management practices such as widespread adoption of reduced tillage systems, introduction of new crops and high-yielding varieties, intensification and extension of crop rotations, and development of new fertilizer products have also affected management of P fertilizer. This presentation will summarize and update a recent review of P management research in the Northern Great Plains that provides the science base for “4R” management of P fertilizer in this region (i.e., “right” source, “right” rate, “right” time and “right” place for fertilizer application). Dr. Don Flaten recently retired from the University of Manitoba, where he was a professor in soil fertility, crop nutrition, and nutrient management. Prior to teaching and conducting research on a full-time basis in |
12:20pm – 1:10pm |
Lunch and networking break |
1:10pm – 1:50pm |
Getting the most out of crop rotationsSpeaker: Sheri StrydhorstWestern Canadian crop rotations are often simple with a heavy dominance of canola and wheat. While many scientific studies show the benefits of diverse crop rotations, these are not always implemented on-farm due to: economic drivers and logistics of large farm operations. This presentation will explore the trends in yield performance of different crop rotations and look at potential ways of diversifying rotations while acknowledging the logistical and economic constraints that farmers face. |
1:50pm – 2:50pm |
Integrated weed management on the PrairiesSpeaker: Clark Brenzil, Saskatchewan Ministry of AgricultureA complex topic made more complex by issues like herbicide resistance and carryover, integrated weed management on the Prairies is a vitally important topic for producers and agronomists. Clark will present strategies to enhance crop diversity and management for 2023. |
2:50pm – 3:10pm |
Coffee and networking break |
3:10pm – 4:00pm |
Verticillium stripe of canola in SaskatchewanSpeaker: Alireza Akhavan, Saskatchewan Ministry of AgriculturePlant pathologists across the Prairies are keeping a keen eye on Verticillium stripe, a potentially devastating canola disease first discovered in Canadian canola production in 2014. Dr. Alireza Akhavan will share the results of the 2022 Verticillium stripe surveillance program in Saskatchewan, surveillance plans for 2023, and insights on the tools to manage the disease. Dr. Alireza Akhavan is the provincial specialist, plant disease, with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture since August 2020. Prior to joining the ministry, he was with the University of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Lacombe for almost 10 years, teaching plant pathology and working on various diseases of canola and cereal crops across the Canadian Prairies.
|
4:00pm |
Closing remarks |
8:30am |
Opening remarks |
8:35am – 9:25am Breakfast Keynote |
Adding value to the Canadian malting barley industry through breeding and researchSpeaker: Aaron Beattie, University of SaskatchewanCanadian barley acreage has averaged 7.5 million acres over the past five years, resulting in annual production of 9.2 million tonnes of barley and an overall contribution to the Canadian GDP exceeding $13 billion in 2020. One of the pillars of the western Canadian malting barley industry are varieties that meet the needs of the various members of the value-chain, including growers, grain handlers, maltsters and brewers. Improving barley varieties by enhancing currently important traits, or by introducing new traits, is the focus of the barley breeding program at the Crop Development Centre. This presentation will provide an overview of western Canadian barley production, the various types of malting barley being bred, recent varieties released, and examples of traits that are the focus of current research which have, or may eventually have, value to the industry. |
9:25 – 10:10am |
Malt barley agronomy insightsSpeaker: Breanne Tidemann, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe, Alta.What tools are available to producers growing malt barley? In this presentation, Breanne will share highlights from her recent research related to the crop, including the efficacy of plant growth regulators, the usage and effects of pre-harvest glyphosate on malt barley, and a sneak peek at a new project that explores competitive barley varieties. |
10:10 – 10:30am |
Coffee and networking break |
10:30am – 11:15am |
Malt across Canada: how previous crop selection can help to reduce nitrogen inputs for barleySpeaker: Aaron Mills, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaAaron will give a perspective of malt barley production in eastern Canada and discuss the recent findings of a national study, which evaluated how previous crops can influence malt barley yield and quality. Aaron Mills is an Agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of Charlottetown, P.E.I. His work is focused on cropping system sustainability and closing the yield gap for grains, oilseeds and pulses. He works with the craft beer sector to foster the production of local ingredients including both malt barley and hops, and his work has helped to increase the number of Maritime acres under malt barley production. |
11:15am – 12:00pm |
Maltster insights: Making informed decisions for 2023Speaker: Doug Munro, Boortmalt NAWhat do maltsters look for when selecting malt barley, how and why are samples chosen, and why does this vary from year to year, or region to region? This session will provide agronomic insights to malt barley growers from the perspective of a maltster. Doug is the North American Merchandising Manager for Boortmalt NA. He joined Boortmalt/Prairie Malt in 2017. Doug has over 30 years of experience in the malting industry. He started his career at Dominion Malting in Winnipeg where he eventually became the Plant Manager. Doug also worked at the Canadian Wheat Board where he was the Malt Barley Program Manager, responsible for overseeing CWB initiatives in malt barley breeding, new variety development and agronomy. Doug obtained his Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) in 1986 and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in plant physiology in 1988, both at the University of Manitoba. Doug also has a Master of Science, Cereal Chemistry from the University of Manitoba in 1994. |
12pm |
Closing remarks |
Venue
TCU Place
35 22nd Street East,
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0C8
Click to view location on google map
Hotel Accommodations
Holiday Inn Saskatoon Downtown
101 Pacific Avenue
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 3X6
1-306-986-5000
For more information, or to make a reservation online, click here.
Delta Saskatoon hotel
405 Twentieth Street East
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 6X6
1-306-665-3322
For more information, or to make a reservation online, click here.